Revealed a dangerous characteristic of the new COVID strain

There is a “high probability” that new variants of the coronavirus could render the company’s vaccine ineffective over time, the researchers say.

A new South African strain of coronavirus has been shown to be more resistant to antibodies, data from clinical trials of two COVID-19 vaccines showed, Reuters reported on January 31.

The new information means that a person who has received the vaccine is much less protected from contracting the South African strain through contact with it.

The Novavax Inc and Johnson & Johnson vaccines have been significantly less effective in preventing COVID-19 in trial participants in South Africa, where the mutated coronavirus is spreading.

The Novavax vaccine, which is 89.3 percent effective for the parent virus, is only 50 percent effective in people in South Africa.

The main vaccines against COVID: effectiveness and differences

Johnson & Johnson said a single dose of the coronavirus vaccine was 66 percent effective overall on three continents, but there were big differences between regions.

In the United States, the effectiveness of Johnson & Johnson preparations reached 72 percent, compared to 57 percent in South Africa.

Pfizer CEO Albert Burla noted that there is a “high probability” that new variants of the coronavirus will over time render the company’s vaccine ineffective.

At the same time, the scientists pointed out that the best way to prevent further evolution of the virus is to stop its reproduction. This means that people should get vaccinated as soon as possible.

Note that the World Health Organization asked developed countries to slow down their vaccination campaigns.

Find out more about newer strains of coronavirus in the Most Infectious and Deadly material.

News of Correspondent.net on Telegram. Subscribe to our channel https://t.me/korrespondentnet